Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-11

last rsssgt they seizsa his sample cssss
and we're sb0zt 70 cass hin thus ds-
fenssless on The world, ike Samson
shoEa Of his locks, when WAiseE Ridesly
appsaEed 81 TIE seems.
Walter Ridgsiy was described a. .
modern knighs eErzBt vho wsnf zsout
seeking travelling men IN distress IN Or
der thai be might extend 70 thsm the
hand of s1eooF. he vas graduate Of
Yale College and . wealthy and ineeu-
tiAl planter. BE sxpoasuIatsd With the
brothers AuTphy, whsFsapon they
turned upon him with drawn rsvoivers.
ThsEeupoa Waiter Riagsly promptly
killed them both, e. any knight errant
from Yale would do under similar cir
eumstAnses. The travelling man tkeFe-
upon gathered up his rssooed sample
eases and struck out across tbs country
fer the nasrsst station, probably mar
yelling over his wonderful eseavs and
congrasulatinR himself ever the story
which he vould nov have 10 tell the
other boys. The whole affair bad 40
parently reached . happy termination.
walter Rideely's troubIes, however,
had only begun. The Anrpbys. II
seemed, we're members Of a large and
belliReEent family, and their Surviving
relatives made up their minds 10 svsnRe
their untimsly end. La fey days two
Of them attacked RidQsly on 3 l0neiy
road and we're promptly killed By that
intrepid and fortunate Yale man. An
other short period Of Teposs ensued
after which three more MaEphys lured
Ridgely from bis house at midnight
and attempted 10 sssassinate him IN the
shadow Of bis own cattle pen. OF
course, be killed all three Of them, but
unfortunately DO vas severely wounded
By one Of bls assaiianss and, according
10 the address, IL nov lying on a bed of
pain.
The address closed with q few words
Mandatory Of the generosity and bravery
Of Walter Ridgely and proposed that
the travelling men Of the United States
show their appreciation Of his behavior
Ia . substantial manner. Is was suR
Rested that each travelling man who felt
% disposed should send the SUM of
twenty. five cents to the committee which
signed the address. With the fund thus
raised il vas proposed TO buy q gold
watch, q medal, or such other testimo-
NAL a. the sizo Of the fund @iQht Jas
tify, 10 be presented 10 Waiter Rideely.
Travelling men are proverbially gen
erous and they we're not slow to testify
their appreciation Of the assistance thus
rendered 10 one Of their number. The
twenty Eve cent pieces beRah to roll in
at a wonderful rate, and the fund grew
10 amazing proportions. In Chicago
alone, it is said, one thousand dollars
we're raised. Before the money was
forwarded TO the committee. however,
somebody happened TO think that it
would be well to learn more concerning
Walter RidRsly. A telegram was 40
eerdinRly ssnt TO the Mayor Of TexArk-
ana inqairinR about the health Of the
wounded kAight eTraRt. To the sur
prise and horror Of the Chicago travels
ling men there promptly came an an.
sWeT to the effect that the Mayor knew
Of no such person as Walter Ridgely,
and that the tragic series Of events with
which his name is associated certainly
never took place in the neighborh0od
Of TeIarkana. Thereupon there was
Rnashihg Of teeth among tbs travelling
men Of the United States.
The hoax WAS An emineRtly success
fal one, and the drummers are com
pletsly taken in. As they are good
natured individuals, however, they will
probably join in the laugh at their own
expense and, one and all. take an cath
10 get even with the man who perpe-
trated the joke, II the large fund
which has been raised for the mythical
Walter RidReIy can now be devoted 20
SEINE good and useful purpose. the
Walter RidRely episode will be Femem-
bsred a. q harmless as well a. a sue
oessful Joke.